2019 Screaming Eagle, The Flight, Oakville

Extremely floral and aromatic with violets and lavender throughout. Black olives, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, very fine-grained tannins that run the length of the wine. Goes on for minutes. A greenish undertone comes out at the end with some spearmint, green tea and green olive. About two-thirds merlot. Best after 2028, but already stunning.

Leading off with the 2019 The Flight, which is 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, this has a beautiful perfume of red cherries, raspberries, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows the finesse, elegance, and lively style favored at this estate today, with perfectly integrated tannins and both richness and freshness. I love its overall balance as well as length, and it will benefit from just a few years of bottle age and should have upwards of two decades of overall longevity.